The mitt is Holden's most physical connection to his younger brother Allie and everything about it suggests innocence. Not only is the glove a small child's glove, it also is covered with poetry that Allie wrote on it so that he would have something to read while he was in the outfield. It suggests that he wasn't even connected to the world when he was playing in the game, everything about him suggests innocence and an entire lack of corruption on Allie's part.

Holden's reverence towards the glove is in some ways foreshadowing the feelings he has towards children and particularly Allie and Phoebe and his desire to be the "catcher in the rye."